The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Lionsgate PG-13 2h 37m Released Nov 17, 2023 Discussed 2023–2024
Opening weekend
$44.6M
3,776 theaters
Per-theater average
$11,813
opening weekend
Domestic total
$166.4M
3.7× its opening
Worldwide total
$347.9M
48% domestic
Production budget
$100.0M
3.5× worldwide
RT critics
64%
RT audience
89%
+25 vs critics
Metacritic
54
Where it turns up
Friday, November 17, 2023 Third weekend of November 2023
On the chart Hunger Games: Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (opening): $44.6M
Expected 'I'll say it looks like high 40's with a shot at a 5 in front of it' Actual: $44.6M
In the note
Many of the films opening this weekend are highlighting where we are as a sector, as well as how we got here. Anyway, with the expected accuracy and efficacy of a USC Defensive Back, here are some thoughts on the weekend box-office. Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Prequels can be a tough road, we’ve seen some recent prequels flame out at the box-office lately (such as the Kingsman prequel), so as much as part of our mission these days is to mine every corner of good IP, going early in the story doesn’t always pay off.
Thursday, November 23, 2023 Thanksgiving 2023
On the chart Hunger Games: BOSAS (Thanksgiving frame): $29.0M 3-day
Friday, December 1, 2023 First weekend of December 2023
On the chart Hunger Games: BOSAS (wk 3): $14.2M, -51%
Expected 'Down a little less than 50% (which is very good for this weekend) and a gross of about $15 million' Actual: $14.2M, -51%
In the note
Anyway, this film could go a bunch of different directions over the weekend, but will probably end up in the mid 20’s. Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Continuing what we saw last weekend when it held nicely, it’s in line with the Thanksgiving films that hold up this weekend.
Friday, December 8, 2023 Second weekend of December 2023
On the chart Hunger Games: BOSAS (wk 4): $9.3M, -34%
Expected 'Down about 35% for a weekend just short of $10 million' Actual: $9.3M, -34%
In the note
However, next weekend we’ll start seeing some nice grosses and the fun begins. Anyway, with the same accuracy and efficacy as a fruit inventory in space, here are some thoughts on the weekend box-office. It could be a tight race for #1 this weekend, there are 4 films that all could end up claiming the crown, but this is my best guess what order they’re going to come in at based on the numbers I’m looking at now. Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes - Continuing to leg out based on good word of mouth (it’s amazing how many of my civilian friends go out of their way to tell me how much they love this film), looks like it’s going to be down about 35% for a weekend just short of $10 million. The Boy and the Heron - There’s a lot of really good things about this opening.
Friday, December 6, 2024 First weekend of December 2024
In the note
Last year’s Thanksgiving featured Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Napoleon, Wish, Trolls Band Together and Thanksgiving; and all those didn’t add up to what Wicked did….in week 2.